International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Kristen Howorko joined The Lactation Network (TLN) in November of 2020 after researching why health plans didn’t always cover care through the Affordable Care Act (ACA): “I found TLN because no one else was advocating for insurance-covered care, and no one else was doing in-home, in-person visits. I had a dream of owning my own business. I just didn’t know how.”

Howorko started as a NICU nurse, but she found herself grappling with how to provide comprehensive care in the hospital setting when she started to offer lactation care to patients post-delivery. “As a lactation consultant in the hospital, I had to give a year’s worth of education in 15 minutes…that was really challenging,” she says. “I knew I wanted to provide more comprehensive care throughout the whole journey via home visits, and not just in the beginning stage.”

Howorko isn’t alone in this sentiment. Lactation consultants that practice in hospital settings frequently mention the difficulties of preparing parents for a months-long — or sometimes years-long — breastfeeding journey at their bedside just after giving birth. “Not having to teach a year’s worth of information in the first 90-minute visit is crucial,” she says. “TLN allows me to provide the best care possible through follow-ups. There’s a huge difference between a two-year-old and one-month-old. I’m able to talk about what’s happening with parents moment-to-moment.”

After opening her private practice, Milked Up, in February of 2022 with TLN support, Howorko says she went from 1-2 visits with self-pay clients to seeing insurance-covered patients at least six times in the first year. “That’s how I was able to take my business from part-time to full-time,” she says. “The Lactation Network is a way to provide comprehensive care to new parents and support them through the journey of their entire baby feeding journey. We don’t have to provide one-size-fits-all care in one visit. You can be with them on that journey.”

The Lactation Network exists to help IBCLCs reach and provide insurance-covered lactation care to families — while getting the billing support and resources they need to thrive. Joining The Lactation Network is free, easy, and great for IBCLCs growing their practices. Join today.

We know what early parenthood is like, and we’ve been there—searching for countless, often conflicting answers online. At The Lactation Network, our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are committed to providing families with trusted, authoritative information about your prenatal-to-weaning journey.

The information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is made available with the understanding that The Lactation Network is not providing professional medical advice on a particular matter. Every family, parent, and care plan is unique—your MD and IBCLC can work with you to ensure you receive the evidence-based, personalized clinical care you deserve. Always consult your clinical team for medical guidance.

Join TLN — it’s free and built for IBCLCs.

We handle billing, end-to-end. We connect you with insurance-covered patients. We help you grow your practice, your way.

Join The Lactation Network as an IBCLC

The post How Kristen Howorko, IBCLC found an advocate for consistent, insurance-covered care in The Lactation Network appeared first on The Lactation Network.

As an African American International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, pediatrician, and mom of five breastfed babies, I’ve had a front-row seat to the world of breastfeeding and infant care. I’ve seen firsthand how important breastfeeding is for a child’s health and development. Yet, I’ve also had personal experience with the struggles Black mothers face when trying to get the breastfeeding support they need. From not having many examples of breastfeeding to follow, to not having access to the support I need to succeed, I can say that I truly understand the plight of the Black breastfeeding mom.

Black breastfeeding rates have historically been lower than other racial groups, and there are a lot of reasons for that — cultural, socioeconomic, and systemic barriers that just make things harder for Black families. That’s why it’s so important to focus on empowering Black families — breaking down the stigmas around breastfeeding, and making sure that the care they get is culturally relevant and sensitive to their needs.

One thing that often gets overlooked is that breastfeeding symptoms can look different on darker skin. Issues like nipple pain, infections, or skin damage from a bad latch do not usually show up the same way they do on lighter skin. For example, nipple damage — which usually looks like pale or white patches on lighter skin, can be hard to spot on dark skin. Similarly, conditions like thrush or mastitis, which usually appear as red areas on lighter skin, can also be harder to see on darker skin. It’s important for lactation consultants and healthcare providers to be trained to really pay attention in order to notice these differences and provide the right support when Black mothers need it. We cannot just say, “it’s not mastitis because it’s not red,” when a mother has all of the other symptoms of mastitis.

Postpartum needs of Black parents and mothers

Postpartum care for Black moms also has its own set of challenges. Black women face higher rates of complications and even death after childbirth compared to other racial groups. Much of this has to do with systemic inequities in maternal care, lack of access to care, and bias (whether perceived or not). On top of that, many Black moms feel pressure to go back to work quickly after having a baby — leaving little time for the rest, recovery, and bonding they need to support breastfeeding. As providers, it’s important that we remind our mothers that it’s okay to take time for themselves and to ask for help. It’s also important to ensure Black families have access to the right resources — whether that’s breastfeeding help, mental health support, or just having people who understand their unique experiences and needs.

Representation in healthcare also matters. When healthcare providers reflect the backgrounds and experiences of their patients, it makes a huge difference in the quality of care. Black families often feel more understood and supported when they have providers who “get” where they’re coming from. It helps build trust, opens up communication, and ensures that recommendations are more in tune with what Black mothers and babies actually need. In my roles, I always try to provide that reassurance and comfort for the families I serve — knowing that culturally competent care can make a real difference in how they feel about their breastfeeding journey and their ultimate success with breastfeeding.

It’s essential for Black mothers to have access to accurate, culturally sensitive information about breastfeeding and feel empowered to make the best decisions for their own health and the health of their babies. By continually striving to address the issues our families face, we can help Black mothers breastfeed successfully, support their postpartum health, and build a healthcare system that truly serves them with respect and understanding.

Petra McEwan, MD, FAAP, IBCLC is a board-certified Pediatrician, Breastfeeding Medicine Specialist, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with 12 years of experience in supporting families and promoting infant health. She is the owner of Mommy & Me Consulting, where she provides in-home and virtual Breastfeeding Medicine and Lactation Consultations to families throughout South Florida.

We know what early parenthood is like, and we’ve been there—searching for countless, often conflicting answers online. At The Lactation Network, our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are committed to providing families with trusted, authoritative information about your prenatal-to-weaning journey.

The information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is made available with the understanding that The Lactation Network is not providing professional medical advice on a particular matter. Every family, parent, and care plan is unique—your MD and IBCLC can work with you to ensure you receive the evidence-based, personalized clinical care you deserve. Always consult your clinical team for medical guidance.

Join TLN — it’s free and built for IBCLCs.

We handle billing, end-to-end. We connect you with insurance-covered patients. We help you grow your practice, your way.

Join The Lactation Network as an IBCLC

The post Unspoken struggles: Breastfeeding and postpartum needs in the Black community appeared first on The Lactation Network.

Charnise Littles, IBCLC is the founder and executive director of Birth & Milk Co., but around 2020, she was practicing lactation care in a complex, taxing hospital setting — in the midst of a global pandemic.

“We weren’t allowed to work on latching. Sometimes, a mother had COVID so her baby couldn’t be in the room.” Although stressful, Littles says she was dedicated to advocating for breastfeeding families both in the hospital and outside of it. “I was one of two LCs that was still doing home visits during COVID; parents weren’t getting adequate support in the hospital. I don’t think people understood the role of the lactation consultant during [the pandemic]. We were in the thick of it too. Working with parents at home allowed us to have a level of quality control.”

Although the hospital Littles worked for was good about “warm handoffs” where she could continue to see her hospital patients at home post-delivery, she didn’t have a way to fully verify their coverage and ensure they got all of the visits they needed with an already busy schedule. Plus, her work-life balance was nearly non-existent.

“Because I was having such long days at work and away from my son during COVID, I really needed to figure out [how to scale] my private practice. After finding TLN, I thought, ‘maybe this was going to be easier than I expected.’”

Littles went from working in the hospital from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., seeing patients at their homes, and getting back to the house at 6:30-7 p.m. “Those were long crazy days,” she laughed. After joining The Lactation Network? “I can actually drop my kid off at school.” Though initially nervous about moving the majority of her practice out of the hospital setting and building her private practice, saving time and reducing stress was paramount for Littles. She decided to make the transition for herself and her family — but she needed a bit more support.

“You hear about what it takes to get in network with insurance companies and it’s daunting,” she notes. “The Lactation Network has contracts with insurance companies so we’re not guessing. We’re not calling insurance companies on the back end. I’m not fussing over claims. I get to keep doing the things I love, and I don’t have to struggle as much. TLN is a great segue for IBCLCs getting into private practice for the first time.”

Now, Littles’ practice is thriving. “I need to expand even more in terms of the providers of my team. I’m too booked out — I have an overwhelming amount of clients at the moment.” With the time she’s afforded with TLN’s billing support, Littles gets to ask questions about what her community needs and expand her ability to provide care where she believes it’s needed most: At home.

“I personally don’t like moving folks out of their homes. Postpartum is hard enough. They have to leave to do post-delivery and pediatric visits… it’s too much. If we can keep people home and optimize on that, it means more empathy and compassion.”

The Lactation Network exists to help IBCLCs reach and provide insurance-covered lactation care to families — while getting the billing support and resources they need to thrive. Joining The Lactation Network is free, easy, and great for IBCLCs growing their practices. Join today.

We know what early parenthood is like, and we’ve been there—searching for countless, often conflicting answers online. At The Lactation Network, our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are committed to providing families with trusted, authoritative information about your prenatal-to-weaning journey.

The information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is made available with the understanding that The Lactation Network is not providing professional medical advice on a particular matter. Every family, parent, and care plan is unique—your MD and IBCLC can work with you to ensure you receive the evidence-based, personalized clinical care you deserve. Always consult your clinical team for medical guidance.

Join TLN — it’s free and built for IBCLCs.

We handle billing, end-to-end. We connect you with insurance-covered patients. We help you grow your practice, your way.

Join The Lactation Network as an IBCLC

The post Charnise Littles, IBCLC: Finding balance with a TLN partnership appeared first on The Lactation Network.

If she could tell an IBCLC who isn’t yet connected with The Lactation Network (TLN) one thing, Francie Webb, IBCLC would tell them that “The Lactation Network does everything except see the client. I see the client and get paid.”

It’s that easy, according to Webb, an IBCLC who is “all about nipping stress in the boob.” She’s been the CEO and trainer at Go Milk Yourself for nearly a decade and serves hundreds of patients through a growing private practice that provides telehealth and in-person visits.

After transitioning from teaching middle school full time, Webb developed a lactation curriculum in May 2022 to facilitate live training for doulas and others in the birth community. But after product-market fit felt misaligned, she found TLN, started seeing insurance-covered patients virtually, and felt like the transition was seamless.

“The revenue we got in the first two months literally saved our business. It allowed me to pay myself for the first time in a long time, especially while navigating a layoff with my husband. The Lactation Network made a huge difference for my family.”
 
It was The Lactation Network’s billing support (“hands down!” Webb exclaimed) that helped make her career transition possible. But it was access to insurance-covered patients that allowed Webb to see patients more consistently, and for longer duration throughout their prenatal to weaning journey.

“Anyone who works with me through TLN is significantly more likely to schedule a follow-up,” Webb says. “I think people are much more likely to get support when they know they will pay zero dollars for their visits. I had a client who was panicking about her baby not taking a bottle right before going back to work. She texted me at 9 a.m. and we had a session on the books by 11 a.m. It was so easy to book another insurance-covered session.”

The Lactation Network exists to help IBCLCs reach and provide insurance-covered lactation care to families — while getting the billing support and resources they need to thrive. Joining The Lactation Network is free, easy, and great for IBCLCs growing their practices. Join today.

We know what early parenthood is like, and we’ve been there—searching for countless, often conflicting answers online. At The Lactation Network, our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are committed to providing families with trusted, authoritative information about your prenatal-to-weaning journey.

The information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is made available with the understanding that The Lactation Network is not providing professional medical advice on a particular matter. Every family, parent, and care plan is unique—your MD and IBCLC can work with you to ensure you receive the evidence-based, personalized clinical care you deserve. Always consult your clinical team for medical guidance.

Join TLN — it’s free and built for IBCLCs.

We handle billing, end-to-end. We connect you with insurance-covered patients. We help you grow your practice, your way.

Join The Lactation Network as an IBCLC

The post How Francie Webb, IBCLC saves time and grows her private practice with TLN appeared first on The Lactation Network.

You’ll find this statement featured prominently on Danielle Gauss, IBCLC’s private practice website.

An advanced practice International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, ICCE Certified Childbirth Educator, and author of “Booby Fairy’s Guide To Breastfeeding,” and “Vagi-Tales: Memoirs From Down Under,” Danielle Gauss, IBCLC is serious about providing care to families.

Gauss specializes in oral ties, low milk supply, acupressure and cranial sacral therapy, and re-lactation. She’s been practicing (both in a hospital and office setting) and providing breastfeeding support for 21 years and has been an IBCLC for 14.

“If I could do this for free for moms, I would,” she says. “Having a baby is expensive enough — breastfeeding isn’t free. I don’t do this for the money. I do this for the moms.”

But before starting with The Lactation Network (TLN) in 2018, her care was costly.

“Before TLN I was lucky if I broke even every year. I keep my prices low, and I saw that those who need help the most can’t afford it.” Billing for her care on her own cost time and effort; there were complex codes to file and health plans that didn’t reimburse for her care.

“The third-party billing situation was a pain in the butt. I just wanted to come in and do my job. TLN handles the billing, I can do what I know I can do best, the parents don’t have to stress about it. And I can get paid decently for what I do. I was thrilled about TLN. It was an option to reach more moms.”

Gauss used TLN’s billing support to reach families more efficiently through insurance-covered care (billing support is just one offering in a suite of services The Lactation Network provides to IBCLCs). This insurance-covered care was especially key for prenatal patients who would have had to pay out of pocket. “I’ve had moms see me three times a week and know I don’t have to charge them $150-$200 each time. They’re grateful. They’re just super grateful. Offering them the consistency is huge.” Then, consistency led to a booming practice. “My business has tripled,” she says. “The Lactation Network gave me freedom and flexibility and is a huge gift to both moms and me.”

The best part? The diverse stories she gets to be part of. “Every case is unique; I do induced lactation with lesbian families. I like to be able step back and say, ‘look at what you did, you can do this.’ Empowering [families] and watching their confidence build — it’s just such an honor to watch. It blesses me to my core.”

The Lactation Network exists to help IBCLCs reach and provide insurance-covered lactation care to families – while getting the billing support and resources they need to thrive. Joining The Lactation Network is free, easy, and great for IBCLCs growing their practices. Join today.

We know what early parenthood is like, and we’ve been there—searching for countless, often conflicting answers online. At The Lactation Network, our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are committed to providing families with trusted, authoritative information about your prenatal-to-weaning journey.

The information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is made available with the understanding that The Lactation Network is not providing professional medical advice on a particular matter. Every family, parent, and care plan is unique—your MD and IBCLC can work with you to ensure you receive the evidence-based, personalized clinical care you deserve. Always consult your clinical team for medical guidance.

Join TLN — it’s free and built for IBCLCs.

We handle billing, end-to-end. We connect you with insurance-covered patients. We help you grow your practice, your way.

Join The Lactation Network as an IBCLC

The post How to grow your private practice: How Danielle Gauss, IBCLC thrives in partnership with TLN appeared first on The Lactation Network.

2024 is an Olympic year. As the CEO of The Lactation Network, I watch competitions like the Games and the U.S. Open for the same reason many do: To see athletes perform herculean feats of strength and mental toughness; to watch people be celebrated for the hard work we see, and the hard work we don’t.  

I’m also curious about the lives that support the humans on the podium (as well as the hundreds who never secure a medal). These coaches, trainers, medics, and mentors that comprise an Olympian’s support system have often-unsung roles to play. They bandage, diagnose, enhance, and support at every step in an athlete’s journey. These people represent the grit behind the gold — and in my work, I now know too well how close these parallels are to the lives of parents. 
 
We often say ‘it takes a village’ to raise a child. I don’t believe it should take a village. Just like Olympians, the journey to welcome a baby (one of the most pivotal, challenging, joyous moments in life) takes a qualified, expert team. 

___ 

Villages imply families: Unpaid, obligatory support (that not everyone has). When we say parents should rely on that infrastructure to help them nourish their children and themselves, what we’re saying is that they should rely on the kindness of loved ones to care for them at a deeply vulnerable time. 

Parents deserve more than that. I believe we need a reframe: Parents are not needy charity cases who must rely on a communal network. They are akin to professional athletes who deserve a coordinated team of expert care providers who work in concert to help them in the arduous, often fraught weeks, months, and years of their postpartum journey. 

There’s a missing middle in the postpartum care experience. OB-GYNs care for pregnant people for about nine months through delivery, and pediatricians care for babies from weeks old through the age of 18. But neither will see both birthing parents and babies until six weeks post-birth.  

That’s just forty-two days — but is an eternity for postpartum parents who are navigating a make-or-break period where post-partum depression, anxiety, and (as we see daily at The Lactation Network) challenges related to breastfeeding often run rampant. Who cares for both parent and baby as they learn how to feed and be fed? Enter the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, or IBCLC. 

Most people don’t know that breastfeeding is a skill that must be learned – and it’s learned during the first few days and weeks home from the hospital. Neither parents nor babies are born innately knowing how to give and receive. Part of that lack of knowledge is simply due to lack of visibility: Parents are often forced to breastfeed behind closed doors, deferring to Google searches to troubleshoot breastfeeding concerns. (It’s an interesting NIMBY-esque phenomenon in the U.S. — society says, sure, breastfeed, just not anywhere anyone should have to see it.) 

The lack of knowledge is also due to a historical lack of inclusion of IBCLCs in traditional healthcare spaces — even though IBCLCs are the highest credentialed clinicians capable of caring for the parent-child dyad at a critical time for both.  

OB-GYNs and pediatricians simply can’t do it all — nor should they. Doulas, midwives, lactation consultants, behavioral health professionals, pediatric dentists, and other team members are precisely who can chip in to assist on postpartum care teams. 

IBCLCs fill a unique role on a family’s care team. There are nearly 20,000 IBCLCs in the U.S., and they’ve earned the highest certifications in clinical lactation care. Each receives extensive training, including hundreds of clinical hours, in breast and chestfeeding. They are often the first to flag signs of postpartum depression, and first to refer babies to specialists if required. Above all, they support parental autonomy throughout their breastfeeding journey: they meet the needs of those who breastfeed and use formula, as well as those navigating transitions like return-to-work or weaning. 

But despite evidence that breastfeeding is crucial to support the health of babies and parents, the United States has the lowest breastfeeding rates among high-income countries. Why? 

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health plans to cover lactation care — but that coverage varies widely. Before the ACA, most families were paying hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket for breastfeeding support, making care inaccessible to underrepresented families. This means that both patients and physicians aren’t aware that insurance-covered care is an option, and traditional healthcare practitioners often don’t take advantage of the expert lactation guidance and support that so many patients desperately need. Plus, ten years after ACA implementation and many health plans are still not appropriately covering this care. 

As a result, only 25% of infants in the U.S. were exclusively breastfed for the first six months. Babies who are breastfed are less likely to need emergency care for respiratory infections and GI infections, and are overall less likely to die before they reach their first birthday. Parents who breastfeed are less likely to contract certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. 

With the right clinical support provided by IBCLCs, we can change the game for our parents and communities at large. What if we standardized an in-home visit with a lactation consultant soon after birth for all breastfeeding parents? What would our communities look like if an expert was still by their side through sleep training, returning to work, and starting solid foods? If we doubled the number of babies being breastfed through six months, the USDA estimates that at least $3.6 billion could be saved annually in treatment of childhood illness alone. Breastfeeding has also been linked to lower absenteeism at work, and greater productivity. More importantly, successful breastfeeding has been shown to improve emotional well-being and reduce rates of depression and anxiety. 

Globally, we’ve spent weeks celebrating humans performing incredible feats of strength on the field, pitch, and court — and I argue that breastfeeding people and parents do the same, daily. They, too, deserve a supportive team to make the journey just a bit easier.   

Add an IBCLC to your team

We’re here for you, every step of the way. We work with your insurance to provide in-home, in-office, or telehealth visits with an IBCLC.

Request your visit

The post None of the greats do it solo. Why do we expect parents to?  appeared first on The Lactation Network.

• TLN works with health plans and employer sponsors to provide coverage for lactation consultations so more families can access essential lactation care. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), you’ll retain independent control over your business. Partnering with TLN gives you access to predictable income, business tools, education, and resources that allow you to spend your time where it matters most: with your patients.  
   
• Supplementary benefits include access to our entire IBCLC library of tools and resources to help you grow your practice. We provide marketing materials, social media toolkits, educational webinars, free access to The Melanated Mammary Atlas, and dedicated business coaching — among other resources. 

• TLN’s services related to insurance coverage and billing include: 
  • All revenue cycle management functions, including eligibility checks, claim submission, and appealing denials.  
  • All technology and platforms needed to manage insurance coverage. 
  • Custom-built portal, the “myTLN portal,” developed by and for IBCLCs and their specific needs, including patient information, a consultation charting tool, telehealth capabilities, secure patient messaging, and visit documentation submission.  
  • Patient Customer Care team that families can contact directly for questions and assistance related to patient intake, insurance coverage, lactation benefits, and billing and insurance-related questions (e.g., “what is an EOB, and why did I receive one from my health plan?”). All clinical questions from patients are directed back to their IBCLC. 

• TLN provides many additional services and resources for private practice IBCLCs at no cost, including:  
  • Educational webinars   
  • Complimentary access to clinical resources  
  • Business coaching   
  • Sample charts, forms, and reports 
  • Annual summit (travel costs not covered, but lodging and meals covered) 
  • Free access to The Melanated Mammary Atlas 
  • Community of fellow private practice IBCLCs

Join TLN — it’s free and built for IBCLCs.

We handle billing, end-to-end. We connect you with insurance-covered patients. We help you grow your practice, your way. 

Become a TLN IBCLC

The post Joining The Lactation Network as an IBCLC? Here’s what to know. appeared first on The Lactation Network.

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are dedicated to supporting families throughout their feeding journeys and providing them with evidence-based lactation care. IBCLCs establish breastfeeding support groups to foster peer connections, and they counsel parents who are struggling with complex feeding issues. Yet, even as clinical practitioners, International Board Certified Lactation Consultants often work in solitude, overlooking the benefits of connecting with peers. Here, we’ll discuss why creating a community of IBCLCs has many benefits for IBCLCs as individuals and private practice builders.

A psychological support system.

Forming strong relationships with other IBCLCs opens the door to a robust network of peers who uniquely understand the challenges of being a lactation consultant (IBCLC) in private practice.  

Providing lactation care can be challenging at times. Whether you’re feeling emotionally fatigued from a long week of consultations or struggling with business decisions, having a network of support to lean on can make all the difference. Support may come in the form of a quick text, a coffee meet-up, or a group dinner. At the end of the day, you’ll know you’re not alone.

Professional networking opportunities within the industry.

There are many ways to connect with other IBCLCs, including at workplaces, online, at lactation workshops and conferences, at coalition and task force meetings, through mutual colleagues, or at professional networking events.  

If you’re finding it difficult to connect with local colleagues, consider hosting a networking event. If you don’t have access to a space, consider a home or a park. Getting together can be as casual or formal as you’d like. Some IBCLCs prefer one or two strong relationships, while others prefer a group dynamic. See what works best for you! 

Broadening professional and personal reach.

Cultivating supportive relationships is one advantage to networking, but there are also professional reasons to establish connections with your peers.

You may want advice about a case you’re finding challenging or need input from a colleague with specific expertise. Many IBCLCs refer to each other when their peer is a better fit for a family or for the support that’s required. Perhaps a family needs to be seen sooner than your schedule allows, you’re ill, on vacation, or the family wants a home visit and you only provide office consultations. Perhaps your IBCLC peer (through their lived experience or specialized training) is aligned with the family’s community and can offer culturally competent care.

Knowing IBCLCs within your own community is uniquely valuable when searching for a local referral or resources. By collaborating and sharing community knowledge, you’ll become both more efficient and informed.

Some IBCLCs formalize their collaborative efforts with fellow IBCLCs by forming group practices or collectives. They may share office space, equipment, supplies, marketing efforts, event costs, or breastfeeding support groups.

When IBCLCs collaborate and network with other IBCLCs, it not only benefits each private practice, but ensures families receive the best possible lactation care tailored to their unique needs.

Advocating for families, policy, and the profession.

Let’s take a full-circle approach here: IBCLCs are, in no uncertain terms, stronger together. TLN IBCLCs put that collective power to work when President Joe Biden signed the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill into law. It was the first time in U.S. history that IBCLCs have been written into federal legislation.

IBCLCs weren’t just the subject of parts of that law: They helped bring it to fruition. This huge first step wouldn’t have happened without a concerted effort by TLN IBCLCs to call representatives in Congress. The amendment included funding for military spouses to earn their IBCLC certifications and positioned IBCLCs as experts to support active-duty military families, plus other gains:

• A professional pathway and earning potential for military spouses. Today, this law serves the spouses of active-duty service members by offering access to IBCLC careers that can be practiced anywhere.
• A vote of confidence in IBCLC expertise. This law will drive meaningful access to lactation care on military bases and beyond.
• A way to recreate communities in the face of transience. Military parents are often far from their own families and support during their breastfeeding journeys. This amendment acknowledges the role IBCLCs play in supporting whole families at vulnerable times.

We know that when IBCLCs band together, they help enact change for families.

Are you new to building a private practice and looking for a step-by-step guide to establishing one? Log into the myTLN portal to access the “Starting Your Practice Playbook.” 

Not yet a TLN IBCLC? It’s free to join. Go here to schedule a call and learn how TLN can help you grow your practice.

Join TLN — it’s free and built for IBCLCs.

We handle billing, end-to-end. We connect you with insurance-covered patients. We help you grow your practice, your way. 

Become a TLN IBCLC

The post IBCLCs: Stronger together appeared first on The Lactation Network.

Many families choose holistic approaches to birth and feeding support, which requires birth workers and lactation consultants to adopt an integrated approach and explore ways of collaborating. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), working closely with OBs, midwives, and doulas in your community not only benefits local families — but also offers unique opportunities to grow your private practice and serve your community. In this article, we’ll look at a few ways IBCLCs and the birth community can partner to support families and each other.

Obstetricians and midwives

Build your contact list.

As with most good plans, a little research in the beginning goes a long way. Create (and maintain) a local provider list that includes contact information, website, and social media details. Reach out to each office and ask how providers would like to receive charts and communication. Send them (or hand deliver!) a package with your business cards and information about your practice.

Look for ways to add value to OB/GYN practices.

Can you offer a low-cost community prenatal breastfeeding class in their office? Or provide them with prenatal breastfeeding information for their newsletter or website?

Share your prenatal catalog of services.

In addition to prenatal classes, let OBs and midwives in your community know that you provide private prenatal lactation consultations. Many may not realize the value of prenatal lactation consultations or know what you cover in these sessions. If you’re a lactation consultant with The Lactation Network, inform these clinical partners that it’s easy to refer patients to you, as consultations are typically covered by the patient’s insurance. Once you establish a relationship with obstetricians and midwives in your community, they will appreciate the care and expert advice you provide.

Chart to OBs and midwives.

When appropriate, send a provider report updating them on the patient’s care. Additionally, during intake, ask your patients who their OB or midwife is and add them to your provider list as needed.

Doulas

Support each other.

Many families are discovering the benefits of utilizing support from birth and postpartum doulas. Some of these families may also be planning to meet with IBCLCs, but others may think their support bases are covered. Similarly, it’s not uncommon for IBCLCs to meet families in the prenatal and postpartum period who would benefit from the support of a doula. Cross-promoting each other not only helps you both grow your businesses, but also creates a wonderful net of support for new families where doulas and lactation consultants bring their different, but complimentary, specialized skills.

Offer education.

Consider offering a “lactation for doulas” workshop, where you discuss the latest lactation research, when to reach out to an IBCLC, and “what to do in the meantime” measures for common lactation issues. Or ask local doulas how you can support their practice. Do you offer a service, or specialized care, that their families have been needing? Can you seek out additional lactation education that helps meet the needs of the community you live in?

Consider including doulas in lactation consultations.

When parents and doulas are both amenable, consider including doulas in both prenatal and postpartum lactation consultations. Everyone benefits when doulas are available to help implement and support the lactation plan you’ve provided.

Host an event.

Are you a new lactation consultant? Perhaps you just moved into a new office? Or maybe you’re celebrating a holiday? (IBCLC Day? World Breastfeeding Week?) Consider hosting an event and inviting local birth workers. It can be purely social, or you can bring in a speaker and provide community education. If you’d like to make it affordable, consider meeting in a park or making it a potluck. Be sure to collect contact information and follow-up with each person you meet.

Forming synergies and partnerships with local birth workers, including OBs, midwives, and doulas, is an effective way for IBCLCs to both grow their business while also improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Stronger clinical connections mean stronger, more supported families and communities, and IBCLCs are an integral part of that winning formula.

Are you new to building a private practice and looking for a step-by-step guide to establishing one? Log into the myTLN portal to access the “Starting Your Practice Playbook.” 

Not yet a TLN IBCLC? It’s free to join. Go here to schedule a call and learn how TLN can help you grow your practice.

Join TLN — it’s free and built for IBCLCs.

We handle billing, end-to-end. We connect you with insurance-covered patients. We help you grow your practice, your way.

Become a TLN IBCLC

The post A match made: IBCLCs and the birth community appeared first on The Lactation Network.

Magic happens when IBCLCs and pediatricians collaborate. Babies thrive, and parents are much more likely to meet their feeding goals. Parents who have access to both of these clinical experts working together don’t just have access to evidence-based information — they feel empowered, supported, and are more likely to feel comfortable with feeding decisions.

Are you a newer lactation consultant wondering how to start the process of meeting local pediatricians? Or are you an established LC interested in building on your existing relationships? The relationship is a special one, helping to reinforce support for the parent and child dyad. Let’s look at some ways IBCLCs can establish and foster relationships with pediatricians to support families everywhere.

  Do your research

Who are the pediatricians that support families in your community? A great first step is to create a contact list of local pediatricians. Include columns for their mailing address, phone, website, social media accounts, and how they like to receive patient charts. Look at their websites and note how they currently support their breastfeeding parents. Online searches, parent groups on social media, and provider directories are good places to gather names. Ask friends and family members for referrals. Even if you’ve been a lactation consultant in the community for years, remember to revisit your contact list periodically. You’ll need to update the pediatricians in each practice while keeping up with new and retiring doctors.

  Say hello

Many IBCLCs aren’t sure how to take that introductory step, but meeting pediatricians and the office staff in person is incredibly valuable. You don’t want to come at a busy time or be turned away, so call in advance and ask the front desk or office manager when you can come by to introduce yourself.

Be prepared to share key points about your practice and yourself as an IBCLC. Do you have specialized training, or is there an aspect of lactation care you’re particularly passionate about? Suggest a few ways you can add value to their practice. (We’ll talk more about that in a bit!) And finally, ask if you can leave business cards or marketing materials. Don’t forget to check in periodically to see if they are running low.

  Communicate

Transparency is key if you are providing care to a patient and their family and are aware of who their pediatrician is. As IBCLCs, we should communicate relevant information from our lactation consultations to the patient doctors, also known as “charting” or sending reports. Regular updates keep the pediatrician informed on their patient’s status and help establish trust in you as a healthcare professional and valuable care team member.

If you have timely information regarding a patient, proactively contact their doctor. Make yourself available to take their calls and discuss cases when needed.

  Educate

Explore ways to provide resources for local pediatrician practices and their patients with current, evidence-based lactation information. Can you offer breastfeeding resources for their website? Fact sheets for their office? Or are the doctors interested in receiving emails with the latest lactation research? Some practices are open to “in-services” where you provide lactation education on specific topics.

Is the practice open to hosting a prenatal breastfeeding class or breastfeeding support group in their office after hours? Or co-hosting a community event during World Breastfeeding Week? The possibilities are endless!

  Make it easy for pediatricians to refer to you

When pediatricians refer to you, they want to know that the family will receive expert care and an excellent experience. International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) with The Lactation Network see families under their insurance, which makes scheduling lactation consultations simple (and low to no cost). When our IBCLCs partner with pediatricians, they can provide support throughout the entire feeding journey — prenatally through weaning. Pediatricians know that families seeing you will receive the highest level of lactation care and access that care easily and without additional cost. If that connection and access feel like something you’d like to experience in your practice, you’re not alone. Luckily, becoming a TLN IBCLC is easy (and free).

As an IBCLC, nurturing relationships with local pediatricians is essential. Whether you’re just starting or very established in your career, these partnerships are vital to creating a collaborative healthcare environment that benefits you, pediatricians, and the families you support.

If you are a healthcare provider, learn how TLN can connect you with International Board Certified Lactation Consultants to deliver comprehensive lactation care for your patients.

Not yet a TLN IBCLC? It’s free to join. Go here to schedule a call and learn how TLN can help you grow your practice. 

Join TLN — it’s free and built for IBCLCs.

We handle billing, end-to-end. We connect you with insurance-covered patients. We help you grow your practice, your way.

Become a TLN IBCLC

The post A match made: IBCLCs and pediatricians appeared first on The Lactation Network.